Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 120877.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Ainslie Street, north side, Conrad Street to Cresson Street.
This bill having been read on two separate 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any resolutions?
A privileged resolution recognizing the Philadelphia restaurants that are designated as Good Employers by the Philadelphia Restaurant Industry Coalition, which includes the employment of ethical workplace practices, such as paying restaurant workers above the legally mandated minimum wage, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
I move the adoption of the resolution, Mr. President. (Duly seconded.)
Been 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution calling on the City Council Committee -(Applause.)
And a resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the planned closure of approximately forty public schools and the impact that said closures will have on students, parents, teachers, principals and members of all School District unions, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion. 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
Been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution requesting the Mayor to return to Council Bill No. 120774, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes; and amending various other Titles to make conforming changes; all under certain terms and conditions," for the purpose of reconsideration by the Council of the 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING vote by which said bill passed Council, introduced by Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold hearings to examine the feasibility and legality of an arrangement which could maximize Philadelphia's economic benefit from the issuance of the available Category 2 Slot 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Machine Operator license, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is also lead co-sponsored with Councilman Jim Kenney and it's also co-sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Councilman Goode, and Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
One nay? Let the record reflect that Councilman Oh is voting nay. The resolution is adopted. 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution recognizing Alejandro Garcia Padilla, Carmen Yullin Cruz Soto, and the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico on its stunning Election Day victories, introduced by Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Technology and Information Services to 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING hold hearings on cross-jurisdictional collaborations to explore opportunities for financial savings and other benefits for Philadelphia and its neighboring municipalities, introduced by Councilman Green.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to investigate and hold public hearings reviewing the 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole and its benefits to the criminal justice system, including the provision of adequate supervision of the offender while protecting the citizens of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. This resolution has been endorsed by all members of City Council, and I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution honoring and recognizing Jeffrey W. Gordon of the occasion of his retirement from PECO, and his tireless commitment to the art, cultural and civic communities of Philadelphia and beyond, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted.
And a privileged 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING resolution recognizing The Sierra Group Academy for the work they do in reversing the high unemployment rate for people with disabilities in Philadelphia by training approximately 300 job seeking adults with disabilities annually, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted.
And a privileged resolution recognizing and celebrating 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING the 150th Anniversary of The Union League of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Okay. Let's take the vote, and then to 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING be official, just ask for a suspension of the rules. It's the Chief Clerk, you know. Mr. Decker, I'm sorry you had to fall on the sword, sir. We were in the middle of a vote. There was a motion on Councilman Oh's resolution.
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. Although the resolution 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING was actually circulated last week, I move to suspend the rules of Council to have it considered today. (Duly seconded.)
And the record shall be noted that it was circulated last week. Mr. Decker, you got to fall on the sword, sir. Mr. Decker, please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution calling on Congress and the President to end the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy, and balance the federal budget in a way that will create jobs and strengthen our communities.
Thank you. Councilman Goode, I'm sorry. Councilman O'Brien, you wanted to be recognized?
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I'm usually a pathological optimist, and I say this somewhat today with tongue and cheek, but also with genuine concern. I think that sequestration almost has to happen. This will allow our policymakers to retreat from previous, some would say, extreme positions. We have to reassert our leadership internationally by demonstrating we can put our fiscal house in order, with a balanced set of priorities, as Councilman Goode has stated, revenue and spending, with a very focused attention to the most vulnerable in our society. Sequestration was designed to be frightening. We as a nation will be judged by our ability to consense. It gives the policymakers the opportunity to 12/6/12 - STATED - 2ND READING say prospectively what we are for rather than what we are against. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you. There's been a motion and a second. Those in favor of the resolution? (Aye.)
Let the record reflect that there is one nay, Councilman Oh. Mr. Decker, any additional resolutions?
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Thank you for having my back, sir. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion regarding
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of special business at this time. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of special business at this time. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Mr. Decker, please read the letter from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am returning herewith, as resolution adopted December 6, 2012, Bill No. 120774, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes; and amending various other Titles to make conforming changes; all under certain terms and conditions," for the purpose of reconsideration by the Council of the vote by which said bill passed Council.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a motion that Council reconsider the vote by which Bill No. 120774 was passed.
All those in favor please signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the motion carries, and the votes by which Bill No. 120774 was passed has been reconsidered. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 120774. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. It is technical in nature, and I move for the adoption of that amendment. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 120774 be adopted. please say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed -- Bill No. 120774 has been amended and will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. That concludes our Calendar and our special business. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I just wanted to express on my behalf and I'm sure on many of the members, if not all the members, how happy we were when we read about Police Officer Michael Gwynn, who in the course of pursuing a suspect and a heart attack. The good news for him was that when he suffered that heart attack and as he collapsed upon the suspect, two fellow police officers from the 35th District, Councilwoman Tasco's district, were right there and they immediately completed the arrest and administered CPR, thereby not only saving his life, but also allowing him, in a very rare opportunity, to have what is expected to be a rapid and full recovery. You know, we certainly congratulate the police officers, but I think it also illustrates how important it is to have properly manned police and fire, first responders because of situations like that, where people, officers can come out, respond appropriately, and in this case, we end up with a happy ending of an officer who can return to duties and also return as a family man for his wife and his two children. you, President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I had an opportunity, like many people, to watch the movie Lincoln. It focuses on the end of the Civil War, particularly a body like ours, but Congress passing the 13th Amendment, which would outlaw slavery and involuntary servitude, except for the punishment of a crime. I note that because statistically today there are more African Americans in correctional control, prison or probation or parole than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War officially ended. We spent a considerable amount of public policy and energy during the Nixon Administration getting tough on crime, that we were going to take a tough policy under the Reagan Administration to Since then, we've had -- and just in the City of Philadelphia, in 1985, there were 275 murders, according to City Paper. It hit a height in 1990 of 525 murders. Today we have 311. How safe do we feel as a city? I would argue that all of that approach has not solved the initial problem, but has created a greater one. There are 8,700 individuals incarcerated, according to the Daily News today. We are being sued for overpopulation. Now, keep in mind, there was policies that predicted that we would do that because we got a little tougher on handgun crimes and other things, but where we are needs to be evaluated. So I say again, how safe do we feel? And I'd like to invite all members of Council to examine that in a meaningful and thoughtful way through three lenses through enforcement's eyes, through the community's eyes, and through the I'm inviting all of you to dig down deep and look at this issue December 19th and 20th at St. Joe's University. We have an anti-crime summit, and we have invited and have confirmed the Prison Commissioner, the State Prison Commissioner, John Wetzel, the Pennsylvania Secretary. We have community leaders like Bilal Qayyum, community groups like Mothers in Charge and Reverend Dr. former Mayor Wilson Goode with the Amachi Foundation. So through those various lenses, we want to look down and see where we are as a society and particularly as a city to figure out not by just holding hands and singing Kumbaya about the issue, but actually taking note and then passing those notes on to responsible parties who can do something about it. And I have to inform you about the gun crisis. You've been a vanguard fighting for measures for the City of Philadelphia, but there are other issues that we need to look at, like what are some of the predictors of crime and violence. What are some of the factors leading up to the commission of a crime. If we know those factors, how do we prevent them? If we know -- and I'll never forget Wilson Goode, Jr. bringing out in budget dialogue that if we know by the time an urban male, particularly African American or Latino, does not read up to standard by the 4th grade how many cells to build by the time they are 18. If we can know that, then we can engineer solutions to prevent that. So we're going to look at that and much more. I invite my colleagues to come out and be a part of it and be a part of not just recognizing the problem, but being architects for its solution. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Did you want to be recognized?
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to, first and foremost, thank you and the Administration for the restoration of funding and particularly for Women Against Abuse, the $3 million that will go toward an additional 100 beds. When I first arrived in Council, we hosted hearings, and I worked in conjunction and partnership with Councilman Bill Greenlee, who kind of gave me some background, strategic information as related to advocating for this particular issue. And so I know we had some discussions about it early on about the need for making sure that we support those who are victims of domestic violence and making sure that the City of Philadelphia does its part by making sure that there are additional beds so that by domestic violence do not stay in a regular shelter but specifically a shelter geared towards focusing on those who are in domestic violation situations. So I want to acknowledge that, as well as the advocacy around the restoration of additional funding for our Parks and Recreation. I know Chairman of Parks and Rec, Councilwoman Cindy Bass, Councilman Squilla, and myself at one time did a press conference working with the Parks Alliance inside the Caucus Room around this very same issue, and I just wanted to acknowledge those who played a role and you listening to our advocacy in terms of working with the Administration that we were able to provide additional funding to those two particular agencies. So thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. And I want to thank the members of Council who earlier in last year's budget process brought the attention of not only myself and the leadership team, but the individuals who negotiated the budget process and agreeing at the time when it appears our fiscal situation was extremely dire, that we agreed to defer that, but also acknowledging that at some point we had to restore those funds, and at the appropriate time when we realized that there was a fund balance a little larger than we had earlier realized, that all of the members stepped forward and adequately supported the transfer measures that Councilman Goode so capably guided through the process. So I want to thank all of you for continuing to be supportive of the process that allowed us to put those much-needed funds, and I also want to thank the Administration for agreeing to participate in that process. So the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Correction, 35th Police District is actually in the 8th Councilmanic District, which is -
That's all right, Councilman. It's no problem. After the next redistricting, there's no telling where it's going to be. So with that, there are no other speeches. At this time, I'd like to recognize Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I make one announcement asking my colleagues to put this on their radar screen. I, like several members of Council, pay special attention to the Free Library's One Book, One Philadelphia, and everyone should be advised that the Free Library will be Book, One Philadelphia at the 11th annual next week. The book is the Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka. They had a wonderful announcement ceremony several weeks ago. And so I'm asking colleagues to please join us following City Council next week to take a group photo of us reading the book, which will become a part of the promotional effort for the City of Philadelphia, encouraging young people to participate as well. With that said, we move that City Council stand adjourned until next Thursday, December 13th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, December 13th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Thank you very much. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on December 6, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A Adams 82:20 90:20 97:16 Almighty 2:22,24 angles 10:21 ability 160:24 83:22,23 114:4 147:22 Amachi 169:14 Anne 79:8 able 172:19 add 7:20 149:4 150:7 amazing 19:8 anniversary abound 3:17 adding 70:18 151:13 152:12 Amen 5:7,8 12:20 16:15 Abramson 11:5 addition 54:3 153:11 154:15 amend 52:22 53:5 19:19 23:2 50:6 abrupt 30:19 101:15 155:13 156:12 amended 22:11 157:2 absence 6:13,18 additional 57:13 157:8 158:11 51:15 54:24 announcement 7:2 67:3 68:4 77:4 159:25 164:19 73:20 100:8 174:19 175:6 absolute 4:2 161:17 171:12 adults 49:24 110:18 115:16 announcing abstain 115:3 171:25 172:9,19 156:7 165:11 114:22 175:2 abstained 115:17 address 27:25 advertising 54:19 amending 28:24 annual 175:3 Abuse 171:11 28:17 38:12,24 66:25 32:21 33:10,15 annually 49:24 academic 169:2 86:6 87:9 90:16 advise 27:12 53:13,21 54:7 156:7 Academy 49:20 addressed 105:16 advised 174:25 54:14,16 56:17 anti-crime 169:6 156:3 addresses 22:17 advocacy 172:8 57:2,7 66:22 anybody 13:2 accelerated 54:12 28:9 37:24 172:17 67:25 70:16 98:19 accept 24:6,11 adequate 43:5 advocating 71:6 73:11 anymore 23:24 25:24 154:5 171:18 75:11 91:11 Anzio 12:9 acceptance 24:13 adequately affirmative 93:21 96:18 113:15 appears 173:6 access 16:18 173:15 96:13 113:10 115:23 116:6 Applause 7:11 19:22 20:23 adhere 78:14 118:17 121:6 121:11 124:4 8:14 11:21 23:5 adjourned 175:15 123:23 126:19 149:18,22 163:4 12:21 14:9 16:6 accident 10:11 175:21 176:7 129:10 131:22 163:8 18:12 19:10 accompanying ADJOURNME...